"Hoverspeed Princess Anne" The Last Super Massive Passenger Hovercraft in existence!
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- Опубликовано: 18 авг 2023
- The SRN4 (Saunders-Roe Nautical 4) is a notable example of a large passenger-carrying hovercraft. It was a type of cross-channel hovercraft that was used for passenger and vehicle transport between the United Kingdom and France. The SRN4 was developed by British company Saunders-Roe in the 1960s and represented a significant advancement in hovercraft technology.
Key features of the SRN4 hovercraft included:
Size and Capacity: The SRN4 was quite large and had the ability to carry a substantial number of passengers and vehicles. It could carry up to 418 passengers and 60 cars, making it a crucial mode of transportation for cross-channel travel.
Cross-Channel Travel: The SRN4 hovercraft were primarily used for transporting passengers and vehicles across the English Channel between Dover, England, and Calais, France. This mode of transportation was faster than traditional ferries and offered a unique experience due to the hovercraft's ability to "fly" just above the water's surface.
Hovercraft Technology: Hovercraft operate by creating a cushion of air beneath them, lifting them off the surface of the water or ground. The SRN4 used large engines to drive propellers that not only propelled the craft forward but also helped create the air cushion necessary for hovering.
Stability: The SRN4 had a stabilizing feature known as a "skirt," which was a flexible rubber barrier that surrounded the craft's base. This skirt trapped the air under the craft, allowing it to hover while maintaining stability and buoyancy.
Speed: The SRN4 was capable of achieving speeds of around 60 to 70 knots (110 to 130 km/h or 70 to 80 mph), making it a swift mode of transportation for its time.
The SRN4 hovercraft played a significant role in the transportation industry, providing a fast and efficient link between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. However, as technology evolved and more advanced forms of transportation, such as high-speed trains and the Channel Tunnel, became available, the demand for cross-channel hovercraft services declined. The last commercial SRN4 hovercraft service took place in the early 2000s, marking the end of an era for this innovative mode of transportation.
Hoverspeed was a prominent operator of high-speed ferries and hovercraft between the two countries. The company was known for its hovercraft and ferry services across the English Channel.
Hoverspeed was established in 1981 as a result of the merger between Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd, two separate hovercraft operators. The company initially operated hovercraft and later expanded its services to include high-speed ferry operations. Hoverspeed's high-speed ferries were capable of carrying passengers and vehicles across the English Channel at competitive speeds.
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Развлечения
Thank you sir for your video.
It brings back memories. As a young boy (6/7 years old), I remember going with my aunt and uncle to Calais to watch the departure of this behemoth. Half boat, half plane. It was fascinating.
Each time, I dreamed of what it was to take a ride in it, promising my older me that I would do it when I could buy a ticket with my own money. Many years later, as a young worker, I tried to make this promise a reality to my younger self. But they'd already had stopped their operations. What a sad day.
A part of my childhood disappeared at that moment , leaving only the memories of the roaring engines and propeller blades, the skirt billowing on the pad and the smell of the jet fuel. So thank you again sir.
Seeing her like this brings me joy and sorrow. She's half of what she was, but now an incredible sleeping beast.
(sorry if my english isn't that great but it's not my native language.)
I crossed the Channel on the SRN4 in 1984 with my bike (free) strapped in the hold. Then on to Spain, definitively.... adventure!
I was lucky enough to go on it when it was owned by British Rail. My sister was scared stiff and started crying when it came up on the apron. I don't really remember much else apart from that spray at speed like you said, oh and buying a postcard of it there.
This thing was incredible!!!
I visited here last year, was a really interesting place to visit! Going on to this hovercraft was literally stepping back in time!
It was the ending of duty free by the EU that killed off the Hovercraft, plus it was becoming harder and more costly to maintain them. Maybe someone will design a cross channel hovercraft for the 21st century and duty free is now back 👌👍. I travelled quite often on the Princesses Ann and Margret from the 1980’s until they stopped in early 2000. Interesting video, thanks.
Great video. It’s on my list to visit this place. Do they fire this beauty up from time to time?
Hi, sorry for the late reply. If I'm honest i'm not too sure. I would say yes, perhaps & maybe. Sorry I couldn't answer this.
I would doubt that the engines would be fit to run any more. Great video by the way. I used to travel pretty regularly on the hovercraft. So much simpler than the ferry because of the relatively small number of cars, so you got on and off quickly. The crossing was theoretically 35 minutes (40 to Ramsgate), but if the weather was rough, it could last a lot longer. Best I ever experienced was 25 minutes on a really calm day; that was brilliant!
There was no first or second class, you sat where you wanted. Experienced travellers went to the back where there was usually less movement if the sea was choppy. Then you could secretly grin at the green faced newbies in front. No use sitting in front for the view as the moment you got into the sea, the windows were covered with salt spray. A great experience all round. Sure the channel tunnel is generally far more efficient, but the feeling of adventure is gone...